A brand new patent means that Apple is exploring how you can create a modular model of the MacE book Pro. According to an Apple Insider report, a modular MacE book would go effectively past the upgradeable parts of the Mac Pro. Rather than providing inner {hardware} modularity, the MacE book’s keyboard, trackpad, and show — in addition to the hinges that join these items — can be interchangeable.
The patent describes how the bottom of a computing system can assist a number of electrical gadgets, resembling shows or keyboards, by way of magnet attachment.
Apple Insider notes that this design resembles what Microsoft did with its Surface merchandise to create gadgets that may operate as each tablets and laptops.
Typically, modular gadgets can profit shoppers and corporations alike. For the corporate, modular {hardware} parts like keyboards and shows correlate to shoppers shopping for a number of elements. For shoppers, the profit may be a better, cheaper substitute: When a single {hardware} element breaks, Users can change solely that half as an alternative of your complete system.
But Apple’s patent means that this line of considering will not be on the forefront of Apple’s ambitions. The patent explains that individuals use tablets, laptops, and desktops to satisfy particular computing wants, however a modular MacE book may very well be a singular system that fulfills each want offered by these three kind components.
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“While every of most of these computing gadgets successfully gives a high quality consumer expertise particularly environments,” the patent states. “It may be fascinating to have the ability to reconfigure these gadgets to function successfully in a broad spectrum of purposes in varied environments.”
Does Apple intend to create a single private computing product that may present all of the capabilities related to tablets, laptops, and desktops?
Of course, snagging a patent does not imply that such an Apple product will hit the market anytime quickly – if ever. But, it is fascinating to see Apple mess around with customizable {hardware}, one thing the corporate has not historically accomplished with its flagship merchandise.
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